Fireball spotted over Southern California believed part of South Taurid meteor shower

A bright streak observed flashing across the Southland sky Wednesday evening was believed to be an especially bright meteor from the ongoing South Taurid meteor shower, officials said.

Witnesses began reporting the sighting about 8 p.m., reportedly as far away as San Diego.

According to National Weather Service Meteorologist Scott Sukup, whose normal field of study does not involve extraterrestrial objects, “it sounds like it’s part of the South Taurid meteor shower. That’s most likely what it was.”

The witness said the fireball was “bright yellowish and blue” as it fell from the sky.

According to the International Meteor Organization, a nonprofit agency tracking meteor showers worldwide, the South Taurids are expected to remain active through Nov. 20, though the shower was expected to peak in October.

This shower is made up of fragments of the Comet Encke, according to a 2005 publication by NASA. The shower is created as Earth passes through the debris left behind by the comet.

“Tiny grains hit our atmosphere at 65,000 mph,” according to the report. “At that speed, even a tiny smidgen of dust makes a vivid streak of light — a meteor — when it disintegrates. Because these meteors shoot out of the constellation Taurus, they’re called Taurids.”